Money basics printable worksheets

Printable money worksheets

These sheets are designed for people who think better on paper. Print this page, or use your browser's Save as PDF option.

How to fill in the sheets: a worked example

The sheets work best in the order they are printed: income and priority bills first, then debts, subscriptions and the monthly review. The example below shows what a completed pack looks like for one household.

Subscription audit

Month by month, each line looks small. Multiplied by 12, the six cost £791.40 a year, and cancelling the two unused apps frees £11.98 a month, or £143.76 a year.

Debt list

Copy the balance, APR and minimum payment from the latest statement or credit agreement rather than from memory. A credit card with £1,850 owing at 29.9% APR builds up roughly £46.10 of interest a month (£1,850 × 29.9% ÷ 12). FCA rules require a card's minimum payment to cover at least the interest, fees and charges plus 1% of the balance, so about £64.60 here, of which only around £18.50 reduces what is owed.

In the Priority? column, mark the debts where falling behind has the most serious consequences. Citizens Advice lists rent and mortgage arrears, secured loan arrears, council tax, gas and electricity, TV licence payments, court fines, overpaid tax credits, hire purchase or conditional sale agreements, unpaid income tax, National Insurance or VAT, and child maintenance. Phone or internet bills also count where they are essential for a disability, for work or for looking for work.

Monthly review

A completed review can be five short lines: a £180 boiler repair came out of savings; car insurance renews next month; the card balance fell from £1,850 to £1,831.50; savings went down by £180; the £11.98 a month saved on apps now goes into a car insurance pot. Keeping each month's sheet shows whether the same problem keeps coming back.

Common mistakes with paper budgets

• Writing gross salary instead of the amount that actually arrives in the account.
• Leaving out bills paid quarterly or once a year. The Excel workbook's Bills Calendar tab turns them into a monthly amount.
• Treating a credit card and council tax as equally urgent. The priority bills checklist exists so that essentials are protected first.
• Filling in the sheets once and never again. The monthly review only works when last month's sheet is to hand.

When to get free debt advice

If the monthly budget starter shows that priority bills cannot be paid, free debt advice is available, and MoneyHelper's debt advice locator finds a service. In England and Wales a debt adviser can also check whether a Breathing Space applies. A standard breathing space lasts 60 days and pauses most enforcement action, as well as interest and charges on the debts included, while a longer-term plan is worked out.

Sources and useful guidance

• MoneyHelper: Budget Planner
• Citizens Advice: work out which debts to deal with first
• Citizens Advice: making a plan to pay your debts
• FCA Handbook: CONC 6.7, credit card minimum repayments
• GOV.UK: Breathing Space (Debt Respite Scheme) guidance
• MoneyHelper: debt advice locator